Magic Hour|Happy Hour

Join us on 11/10 at Brixton, conveniently located at 9th and U St. NW. Celebrate with Matthew Rakola as he ends his term as Chairman of APA|DC. Matthew is passing the torch to Jason Hornick, effective immediately. So, let’s toast to Matthew, Welcome Jason, and KICK OFF FOTODC WEEK in style!

It has been a great pleasure to hold the title of chair and to work with the board of the DC Chapter of the American Photographic Artists for the past 4 years. I’ve really enjoyed meeting many of you and (hopefully) doing just a little bit to help in your careers.

On October 25th I stepped down from this position in order to dedicate more time to a growing family. Child #2 (not his legal name) is due at the end of November, and if Alex is any indication, I won’t have much mental energy to spare.

Over the course of this tenure my overarching goal has remained the same: to better the working conditions for ALL photographers in the area. I firmly believe that the tighter knit we are as a community, the more informed, capable and successful we will be as working professionals. In the six years that I’ve lived in DC, I’ve only seen the creative talent here grow. This community, regardless of professional affiliation (or not) can compete, shooter for shooter, with any region in the country.

I’m very proud of the work that our local chapter board has put into helping to make this a reality: We’ve held social events that promote open communication and goodwill between photographers; professional training on all aspects of our industry; presentations and partnerships with the local creative community; and events like our ‘Featured Member’ series, portfolio review, and in-person referrals.

Jason Hornick, longtime board member has already taken the reins as chair of the chapter. Those of you who were at the portfolio reviews saw first hand the many talents that Jason has already brought to the chapter. I’ve heard some of his (and the board’s) ideas for 2017 and I gotta be honest.–it’s going to be a spectacular year and I very much look forward to attending them as a chapter member.

In closing, I’m not going away, just stepping back. Please feel free to reach me at any time at matthew@matthewrakola.com to say hi or offer to buy me coffee. (Just saying– with two young children I’ll need it.)

It’s a very exciting time to be a photographer in this area, and I can’t wait to see how this chapter helps to shape it.

For the last few months a number of the local photography trade groups have been co-hosting our monthly happy hours in an attempt to mix things up a bit. We’re please as punch to announce that we’re hosting in the month of May. So, please join us on May 19th at James Hoban’s in Dupont Circle for some drinks, catching up, recounting, scheming, and whatever else comes up.

And….. Welcome to the New Year!

We’re all bubbling with new ideas and great plans for 2015, so let’s get to it! (Or, at least talk about it over drinks.)

This month we’re going to peer into the future at the Looking Glass Lounge in Petworth. It’s a time to meet other photographers, do a bit of catching up, and figure out how to navigate the upcoming year.

Why

By now the nights are really starting to get chilly and that can only mean one thing– Oktoberfest is upon us!

Naturally, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to celebrate this month’s happy hour in one of DC’s newest beer halls. So, we would pleased as punch if you could raise a stein with us on O(k)tober 15th at the Sauf Haus in Dupont Circle. Prost!

When

Where

Wait, if an APA member shows up and updates their “Find a Member“and Behance profiles on the spot they’ll get a free drink? Oh, and this includes any member who has already done it? (Because you’re probably missing six-figure assignments every day an art buyer can’t find you on our site.) Heck ya!

They say that April showers bring May flowers. But what does April snow bring? The answer, aside from allergies, is a May co-hosted happy hour with the DC chapter of AIGA. Please don your fanciest shoes and get ready to rub elbows with one of the busiest chapters of THE trade group for professional designers. We’ll be getting our Gestalt on at The Board Room in Dupont for a relaxing evening of chitter chatter, probably followed up by an impossibly intense game of Mousetrap. (We can only hope that nobody loses their right index finger.)

This is a great time to meet other interesting and outgoing people in an adjacent creative industry. Pop in on Tuesday the 13th!

When

Tuesday, May 13th, 6-8:30 pm

Where

Why

Good times don’t have themselves.

About AIGA

AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, we bring together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. We define global standards and ethical practices, guide design education, enhance professional development, and make powerful tools and resources accessible to all.

So you have your tax refund in hand, right? Time to be generous and buy someone a drink at April’s Magic Hour|Happy Hour in Silver Spring. We realize we’ve been on a bit of an Irish pub bender lately, so we thought we’d go in a new direction. On April 16th we’ll be found at Jackie’s Side Bar, enjoying some of their delicious specialty cocktails. Join us for a drink, meet new people, and relax– summer is just around the corner!

Why

This O’March, in celebration of St. Patty’s Day, we’re taking our Magic O’Hour|Happy O’Hour to the quaint olde O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Clarendon.

[O’kay, the apostrophes are O’ver.]

For the uninitiated or forgetful, this is a relaxed evening to catch up with peers, meet new people, and figure out this crazy thing called photography. The happy hour starts at 6 pm and the hanging out usually lasts well past 8 pm. New to the area or want to introduce a friend to the community? This is the social event for you.